Students should bring a packed lunch.Students under 12 years of age (including 12) have to be supervised by a parent at the event.

About This is Not a Game

“This is Not A Game Ocean Challenge” is a call out to students to help spread the word about threats to our Ocean by learning code and making games. The goal is to help to use the popularity of games to raise awareness of issues like over fishing, the problem of ocean garbage and human impact on life in the sea. This competition is being launched by Coder Dojo, the U.S. Embassy in Dublin and the U.S. Consulate in Belfast, as well as several educational partners and is open to students in Ireland (10 – 18 years old).

You can sign up as an individual or as part of a team. Then you can attend a local launch workshop or get help from your local Coder Dojo and mentors to create your game. The last step is to submit your game to a panel of judges that will include professional game makers. Finalists will be invited to present their finished games at the BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition in Dublin in January.

You don’t need to know how to code to start. A good team includes more than just programmers. Storytellers, writers, artists and musicians all help create great interactive games. So anyone who cares about the fate of the sea can help.

Coder Dojo and the US Embassy launch a competition to make games with an aim

This is Not a Game, a video game challenge for students, launched at the Festival of Curiosity on 24 July. The goal is to use the fun and popularity of games to raise awareness of Marine issues like overfishing, ocean pollution and ocean acidification. The challenge is being organised by CoderDojo, the U.S. Embassy, and third-level educational institutions including Griffith College. The first of a series of local launch workshops will be in Dublin on September 13 and will include talks and hands-on training by industry leaders and experts aimed at equipping aspiring game makers with the skill and knowledge to start creating their own video games.

Open to 10-18 year olds with an interest in any aspect of game making, the ocean-themed competition challenges secondary school students to create a game that allows others to “learn by playing” about current dangers to our ocean ecosystem. Finalists will get to showcase their games at the BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition, receive mentorship from industry professionals, and get a chance to have their games played by thousands of gamers. Interested students should register at www.thisisnotagame.org to secure a place at their local launch workshops, which will take place throughout September and October.

Eoin Carroll from Griffith College emphasised, “We’re not just looking for techies for this competition. It is open to anyone with an interest in any aspect of game making – from art and sound design to the business of video games.”

“This is Not A Game Ocean Challenge” is a call out to students to help spread the word about threats to our Ocean by learning code and making games. This competition is being launched by Coder Dojo, the U.S. Embassy and educational partners such as Griffith College and is open to students in Ireland aged 10 to 18 years old. The goal is to help to use the popularity of games to raise awareness of issues like over fishing, the problem of ocean garbage and human impact on life in the sea.

Then you can attend a local launch workshop or get help from your local Coder Dojo and mentors to create your game. The last step is to submit your game to a panel of judges that will include professional game makers. Finalists will be invited to present their finished games at the BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition in Dublin in January.

You don’t need to know how to code to start. A good team includes more than just programmers. Storytellers, writers, artists and musicians all help create great interactive games. So anyone who cares about the fate of the sea can help!

Presentation of the best games at the BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition in Dublin, Ireland

September Launch Workshop in Dublin

The first of a series of local workshops will be in Dublin on September 13th and will include talks and workshops by industry experts aimed at equipping aspiring game makers with the skill and knowledge to start creating their own video games. The theme of your game has to tell a story about the ocean. Most people don’t really know about the threats to the ocean environment and what we need to do to protect this incredible environment. Further details about the location will be announce soon on the www.thisisnotagame.org website.

Launch Workshops near your local community

Dates will be announced for other workshops at Dojos across the country in September and October. If your Dojo is interested in holding a “this is not a game session please contact: info@coderDojo.org